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Toronto, Ontario - Native Earth Performing Arts and the Théâtre français de Toronto, in association with Luminato Festival Toronto, are proud to present Aalaapi | ᐋᓛᐱ, a documentary theatre piece combining radio testimonials in French, English and Inuktitut. From June 8 to 10, 2023, at the Ada Slaight Hall Theatre, the public is invited to discover the daily lives of two young women from Nunavik, revealing the power of their stories and their future.

Aalaapi | ᐋᓛᐱ takes its name from the Inuktitut word meaning "Choosing silence to hear something beautiful". During the creation, director Laurence Dauphinais and co-creators Hannah Tooktoo and Niap Saunders worked passionately to establish an artistic process open to sharing, nuance and uncertainty. The aim was to revisit the way theatre and radio are made, avoiding the reproduction of historical relationships and colonialist approach, creating a truly collective work. The role originally played by Hannah Tooktoo is now played by Olivia Ikey.

The intimate portraits of these young women, sketched through speech, sound and silence, are both moving and captivating. The audience is invited to dive into their complex reality and feel the power of their stories.

This innovative show highlights the essential role of radio in Nordic communities. Often seen as the art of speaking, radio is in fact the art of listening. Aalaapi | ᐋᓛᐱ invites the audience to adopt this listening posture as a first step towards an authentic encounter.

Indeed, the Nordic communities feel a great need to preserve the forms of traditional expressions that have been largely weakened over time, deeply affecting their identity. Aalaapi | ᐋᓛᐱ offers a different representation of the North, far from the stereotypes often conveyed by the media, and thus contributes to healing.

The 80-minute performance is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Aalaapi is a trilingual show which features dynamic, alternating English/French surtitles.

Don't miss this daring and sensory multidisciplinary work, which has received critical acclaim.

Aalaapi | ᐋᓛᐱ
A production by COLLECTIF AALAAPI
A show by Collectif Aalaapi | Produced and toured by La Messe Basse | Original idea by Laurence Dauphinais + Marie-Laurence Rancourt | Directed by Laurence Dauphinais | Music by Antonin Wyss | Sound and video by Joël Lavoie | Video by Guillaume Vallée | Translation by Brett Donahue + Nicolas Pirti-Duplessis | Assistant Director: Charlie Cohen | Animation by Camille Monette-Dubeau | Tour Direction Charlotte Ménard | Tour Technical Direction and Lighting Romane Bocquet | Sound and Video on Tour Pierre-Alexandre Poirier-Guay | Stage Management Charlotte Ménard | Illustration Chief Lady Bird

Duration: 80 minutes without intermission.
Thursday, June 8th at 7:30 PM, Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday, June 10th at 10:00 AM and 7:30 PM at
Ada Slaight Hall: | 585 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5A 2B7
Ticket prices: Regular: $45 | Senior: $35 | Under 30 and Artists: $20 | Pay-What-You-Can ($10, $15, or $20) at the door | Group rate for 8 or more: $20 per ticket
Box Office: 416.534.6604 or theatrefrancais.com